Special Report: Artificial Intelligence

Illustration: Eric Frommelt Popularized in science fiction, AI is no longer merely a figment of our imaginations. In the past few years, the technology has moved from research labs into our everyday lives. It’s being used in medical devices, smart-home systems, and video games—to say nothing of robots and autonomous cars. And AI has started to do what many people have feared: outsmart humans. In this special report, The Institute describes one of the latest AI developments: deep learning, in which neural networks teach themselves and make decisions on their own. Google, Microsoft, and other tech companies are racing to improve deep learning and apply it to new applications. And noteworthy AI applications are already in place, including computer systems writing news articles and preventing credit card fraud. Companies…